MIN  U  T  E  S 

OF  THE 

CONVENTION 

OF  THE 

STATE  OF  NEW-JERSEY, 


Holden  at  Trenton  the  nth  Day  of  December  1787. 


TRENTON: 

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Printed  by  Isaac  Collins,  Printer  to  the  State. 

M.DCC.LXXXVIII. 

Trenton — Reprinted  by  Clayton  L.  Traver,  MDCCCIyXXXVIII. 


PeMiWI  iut.'ncC  VftfcwA  CBoKiirtfVcm.}  U  F^l?  Uo^k  iro  4 -  COq^jJL\G  Sii. 


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A  List  of  the  Members  of  the  State  Convention,  elected  pursuant  to  a  Resolution  of  the 
Legislature  of  this  State,  passed  at  Trenton,  October  29,  1787. 


1) 

fl 


Bergen,  j 

John  Fell, 

Peter  Zabriskie, 

[_  Cornelius  Hennion, 

| 

(  John  Chetwood, 

Samuel  Hay, 

David  Crane, 

Middlesex,  j 

f  John  Neilson, 

John  Beatty, 

Benjamin  Manning, 

Monmouth,  j 

j  Elisha  Lawrence, 

Samuel  Breese, 

William  Crawford, 

Somerset,  j 

f  John  Witherspoon, 

Jacob  R.  Hardenbergh, 
i  Frederick  Frelinghuysen, 

Burlington,  j 

;  Thomas  Reynolds, 

George  Anderson, 

[  Joshua  M.  Wallace, 

Gloucester,  j 

i  Richard  Howell, 

Andrew  Hunter, 

[  Benjamin  Whitall, 

Salem,  j 

|  Whitten  Cripps, 

Edmund  Wetherby, 

[  *  Samuel  Dick, 

Cape-May,  ,  j 

f  Jesse  Hand, 

Jeremiah  Eldredge, 

[  Matthew  Whillden, 

Hunterdon,  4 

f  John  Stevens, 

Hon.  David  Brearley, 

[  Joshua  Corshon, 

Morris,  "j 

f  William  Windes, 

I  William  Woodhull, 

[  John  J.  Faesch, 

#■ 

Cumberland,  %  -< 

f  David  Potter, 

Jonathan  Bowen, 

[  Eli  Elmer, 

Sussex,  ‘  -j 

|  Robert  Ogden, 

Thomas  Anderson, 
Robert  Hoops, 

Esquires. 


LIBRARY 

5%*S* *  umis 

UR8A*M-CHAMPAIS« 


(  5  ) 


MINUTES 

OF  THE 

CONVENTION 

I  y 

OF  THE 

STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY. 


TRENT  ON,  Tuesday,  December  1 1,  1787. 

JOHN  FELL,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Cornelius  Hennion,  John  Neilson,  John 
Beatty,  Benjamin  Manning,  Samuel  Breese,  William  Crawford,  Jobn 
Witherspoon,  Jacob  R.  Hardenbergh,  Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  Thomas 
Reynolds,  George  Anderson,  Joshua  M.  Wallace,  Richard  Howell,  An¬ 
drew  Hunter,  Benjamin  Whitall,  Jesse  Hand,  Jeremiah  Kldredge,  Mat¬ 
thew  Whillden,  John  Stevens,  David  Brearley,  Joshua  Corshon,  William 
Windes,  William  Woodhull,  John  J.  Faesch,  David  Potter,  Jonathan  Bow¬ 
en,  Eli  Elmer,  Robert  Ogden  and  Thomas  Anderson,  being  assembled  in 
Pursuance  of  the  Resolution  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  unanimously 
passed  at  Trenton,  October  29,  1787,  they  proceeded  to  appoint  Mr.  Beatty, 
Mr.  Frelinghuysen  and  Mr.  Hand,  a  Committee  to  receive  and  examine  the 

Certificates 


6  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


Certificates  of  the  Election  of  the  Members  of  this  Convention,  and  to 
report  on  the  same. 

Adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’clock. 

Wednesday ,  December  1 2,  1787. 

The  Convention  met  pursuant  to  Adjournment. 

Present  as  before,  together  with  John  Chetwood,  Samuel  Hay  and  Da¬ 
vid  Crane,  Delegates  from  the  County  of  Essex,  Whitten  Cripps  and  Ed¬ 
mund  Wetherby,  two  of  the  Delegates  from  the  County  of  Salem,  and 
Robert  Hoops,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  the  County  of  Sussex. 

Mr.  Beatty,  from  the  Committee,  reported,  that  the  following  Persons, 
viz.  John  Fell,  Peter  Zabriskie,  Cornelius  Hennion,  John  Chetwood,  Sa¬ 
muel  Hay,  David  Crane,  John  Neilson,  John  Beatty,  Benjamin  Manning, 
Samuel  Breese,  William  Crawford,  John  Witherspoon,  Jacob  R.  Harden- 
bergh,  Frederick  Frelinghuysen,  Thomas  Reynolds,  George  Anderson,  Jo¬ 
shua  M.  Wallace,  Richard  Howell,  Andrew  Hunter,  Benjamin  Wliitall, 
Whitten  Cripps,  Edmund  Wetherby,  Jesse  Hand,  Jeremiah  Eldredge, 
Matthew  Whillden,  John  Stevens,  David  Brearley,  Joshua  Corshon,  Willi¬ 
am  Windes,  William  Woodhull,  John  J.  Faesch,  David  Potter,  Jonathan 
Bowen,  Eli  Elmer,  Robert  Ogden,  Thomas  Anderson  and  Robert  Hoops, 
have  been  duly  elected  agreeably  to  the  Resolution  of  the  Legislature, 
passed  on  the  29th  of  October  last. 

To  which  Report  the  Convention  agreed. 

Elisha  Lawrence,  one  of  the  Delegates  from  the  County  of  Monmouth, 
produced  a  Certificate  of  his  being  duly  elected ;  which  being  read  and 
approved,  he  took  his  Seat  in  Convention. 

The  Convention  proceeded  to  the  Choice  of  a  President,  by  Ballot,  when 
the  Honourable  John  Stevens,  Esquire,  was  elected. 

The  Convention  then  proceeded  to  the  Choice  of  a  Secretary,  also  by 
Ballot,  when  Samuel-Witham  Stockton,  Esquire,  was  elected. 

William  Rogers  was  appointed  Doorkeeper.  Mr. 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  7 

Mr.  Brearly,  Mr.  Hardenbergli  and  Mr.  Neijson,  were  appointed  a 
Committee  to  draw  up  and  report  Rules  for  the  Government  of  this 
Convention  during  their  Sitting. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’Clock. 

Thursday ,  December  13,  1787. 

The  Convention  met  agreeably  to  Adjournment. 

Present  as  before. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  Rev.  Mr.  Armstrong  be  requested  to  open  the  Busi¬ 
ness  of  the  Convention  every  Morning  during  their  Sitting  with  Prayers. 

The  Committee  appointed  Yesterday,  to  form  Rules  for  the  Government 
of  this  Convention,  made  their  Report;  which,  being  considered  and  amend¬ 
ed,  was  agreed  to  as  follows : 

Rules  for  conducting  Business  in  the  Convention  of  New  Jersey. 

'T 

I.  1  H  E  Convention  shall  be  opened  every  Morning  with  Prayers. 

II.  When  the  President  assumes  the  Chair,  the  Members  shall  take  their  Seats. 

III.  The  minutes  of  the  preceding  Day  shall  be  read,  and,  if  necessary, 
may  be  corrected. 

IV.  Every  Petition,  Memorial,  Tetter,  or  other  Thing  of  the  like  Kind, 
read  in  the  Convention,  shall  be  deemed  as  lying  on  the  Table  for  fur¬ 
ther  Consideration,  unless  any  special  Order  be  moved  thereon. 

V.  A  motion  made  and  seconded,  shall  be  repeated  by  the  President ; 
a  Motion  shall  be  reduced  to  writing  if  the  President  or  any  two  Mem¬ 
bers  require  it;  a  Motion  may  be  withdrawn  by  the  Member  making  it 
before  any  Decision  is  had  thereon. 

VI.  A  Motion  of  Postponement  or  Amendment  shall  always  be  in  Or¬ 
der,  and  considered  as  the  previous  Question. 

VII.  If  a  Question  under  Debate  contains  several  Points,  any  Member 

may  have  it  divided.  VIII. 


8  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


VIII.  No  Member  speaking  shall  be  interrupted  but  by  a  Call  to  Order 
by  the  President,  or  by  a  Member  through  the  President. 

IX.  No  Member  shall  be  referred  to  in  Debate  by  Name. 

X.  Every  Member,  when  he  chooses  to  speak,  shall  rise  and  address  the 
President;  when  two  Members  chance  to  rise  at  the  same  Time,  the  Pre¬ 
sident  shall  name  the  Person  who  is  to  speak  first. 

XI.  Every  Member  shall  conduct  himself  with  Decency  and  Decorum. 
The  President  himself,  or  by  Request,  may  call  to  Order  any  Member  who 
shall  transgress  the  Rules ;  if  the  Disorder  be  continued  or  repeated,  the 
President  may  refer  to  him  by  Name ;  the  Convention  may  then  examine 
and  censure  the  Member’s  Conduct,  he  being  allowed  to  extenuate  or 
justify  himself. 

XII.  Every  Member  shall  be  in  his  Place  at  the  Time  the  Convention 
stands  adjourned  to,  or  within  Half  an  Hour  thereafter. 

XIII.  No  Member  shall  speak  more  than  once  in  a  Debate,  until  every 
Member  who  chooses  shall  have  spoken  on  the  same. 

XIV.  The  Yeas  and  Nays  may  be  called  and  entered  on  the  Minutes, 
when  any  two  Members  require  it. 

XV.  A  Motion  to  adjourn  may  be  made  at  any  Time,  and  shall  always 
be  in  Order,  and  the  Question  thereon  shall  be  put  without  any  Debate. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  this  State,  passed  at  Tren¬ 
ton,  November  i,  1787,  giving  Authority  for  the  People  thereof,  by  their 
Delegates,  to  meet  in  Convention,  to  deliberate  upon,  and,  if  approved  of 
by  them,  to  ratify  the  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  proposed  by  the 
General  Convention  held  at  Philadelphia,  be  read;  whereupon  the  same 
was  read  by  the  Secretary. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America,  agreed 
to  in  Convention  at  Philadelphia,  September  17,  1787,  be  also  read ; 
whereupon  the  same  was  read  accordingly.  On 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  9 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  usual  Time  of  the  Meeting  of  the  Convention  be  at 

ten  o’Clock  in  the  Morning,  and  of  Adjournment  at  three  o’Clock  in  the 

Afternoon. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  Federal  Constitution  be  now  read  by  Sections,  and, 
upon  each  Section’s  being  read,  every  Member  do  make  his  Observations  on 
the  same,  if  any  he  hath  to  make ;  that,  after  debating  on  such  Section,  the 
Question  be  taken,  whether  any  further  Debate  be  thereon  had ;  and,  if 

the  said  Question  be  determined  in  the  Negative,  that  the  Convention  do 

then  proceed  in  like  manner  to  the  next  Section,  until  the  Whole  be  gone 
through ;  upon  which  the  general  Question  shall  be  taken,  Whether  this 
Convention,  in  the  Name  and  in  Behalf  of  the  People  of  this  State,  do  ra¬ 
tify  and  confirm  the  said  Constitution. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’Clock. 

Friday ,  December  14,  1787. 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

On  Motion, 

Ordered ,  That  the  Doors  of  this  Convention  be  open  during  the  Sitting. 

The  Convention,  in  pursuance  of  their  Resolution  of  Yesterday,  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  consider  and  deliberate  upon  the  proposed  Federal  Constitution 
by  Sections. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’Clock. 

Saturday,  December  15,  1787. 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

The  Convention  proceeded  further  to  consider  and  deliberate  upon  the 
before  mentioned  Constitution  by  Sections. 

B 


The 


IO  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


The  Convention  adjourned  to  meet  again  on  Monday  Morning  next  at 
ten  o’Clock. 

Monday ,  December  ij,  1787. 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

A  Petition  from  Messrs.  Quequelle  and  Wilson,  Printers  in  Trenton, 
praying  to  be  appointed  by  the  Convention  to  print  their  Proceedings,  was 
presented  and  read. 

The  Convention  proceeded  further  to  consider  and  deliberate  upon  the 
said  Constitution  by  Sections ;  and  having  gone  through  the  same,  on 
Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  said  Constitution  be  again  read  To-morrow  Morning. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’Clock. 

Tuesday ,  December  18,  1787. 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

Agreeably  to  the  Resolution  of  Yesterday,  the  Federal  Constitution  was 
again  read;  and,  after  debating  thereon,  the  general  Question,  viz.  Whe¬ 
ther  this  Convention,  in  the  Name  and  in  Behalf  of  the  People  of  this 
State,  do  ratify  and  confirm  the ,  said  Constitution,  was  put ;  which  was 
determined  in  the  Affirmative  unanimously. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  Mr.  Brearley,  Mr.  Witherspoon,  Mr.  Neilson,  Mr.  Beatty 
and  Mr.  Hunter,  be  a  Committee  for  drawing  up  the  Form  of  the  Ratifi¬ 
cation  of  the  proposed  Constitution,  on  the  Part  of  this  State. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  Mr.  Bowen  and  Mr.  Whillden  be  a  Committee  for  the 
Purpose  of  reporting  a  State  of  the  Expenses  attending  the  Business  of 
this  Convention. 

The  Convention  adjourned  to  six  o’Clock  this  Evening. 


The 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  xi 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

Mr.  Brearley,  from  the  Committee  appointed  for  drawing  up  the  Form 
of  the  Ratification,  reported,  that  they  had,  agreeably  to  the  Order  of  the 
Convention,  drawn  up  a  Form,  which,  being  read  and  amended,  was 
agreed  to  as  follows : 

In  Convention  of  the  State  of  New-Jersey. 

WHEREAS  a  Convention  of  Delegates  from  the  following  States,  viz. 
New-Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  New-York,  New-Jersey, 
Pennsylvania,  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North-Carolina,  South- 
Carolina  and  Georgia,  met  at  Philadelphia,  for  the  Purpose  of  deliberating 
on  and  forming  a  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America,  finished 
their  Session  on  the  seventeenth  Day  of  September  last,  and  reported  to 
Congress  the  Form  which  they  had  agreed  upon,  in  the  Words  following, 
viz. 

i 

‘  TITE,  the  People  of  the  United  States,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect 
‘  VV  Union,  establish  Justice,  ensure  domestick  Tranquility,  provide 
‘  for  the  common  Defence,  promote  the  general  Welfare,  and  secure  the 
‘  Blessings  of  Liberty  to  ourselves  and  our  Posterity,  do  ordain  and  esta- 
‘  blish  this  Constitution  for  the  United  States  of  America. 

‘ARTICLE  I. 

‘  Sect.  i.  All  legislative  Powers  herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in  a  Con- 
‘  gress  of  the  United  States,  which  shall  consist  of  a  Senate  and  House  of 
‘  Representatives. 

‘  Sect.  2.  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  be  composed  of  Mem- 
‘  bers  chosen  every  second  Year  by  the  People  of  the  several  States,  and 
‘  the  Electors  in  each  State  shall  have  the  Qualifications  requisite  for  Elec- 
‘  tors  of  the  most  numerous  Branch  of  the  State  Legislature. 

‘  No  Person  shall  be  a  Representative  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the 
‘  Age  of  twenty-five  Years,  and  been  seven  Years  a  Citizen  of  the  United 

‘  States, 


i2  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


‘  States,  and  who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  Inhabitant  of  that  State 
4  in  which  he  shall  be  chosen. 

4  Representatives  and  direct  Taxes  shall  be  apportioned  among  the  se- 
4  veral  States  which  may  be  included  within  this  Union,  according  to  their 
4  respective  Numbers,  which  shall  be  determined  by  adding  to  the  whole 
4  Number  of  free  Persons,  including  those  bound  to  Service  for  a  Term 
4  of-  Years,  and  excluding  Indians  not  taxed,  three-fifths  of  all  other 
‘  Persons.  The  actual  Enumeration  shall  be  made  within  three  Years 
‘  after  the  first  Meeting  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  with- 
*  in  every  subsequent  Term  of  ten  Years,  in  such  Manner  as  they  shall 
4  by  Law  direct.  The  Number  of  Representatives  shall  not  exceed  one  for 
4  every  Thirty  Thousand,  but  each  State  shall  have  at  least  one  Representa- 
‘  tive ;  and  until  such  Enumeration  shall  be  made,  the  State  of  New- 
4  Hampshire  shall  be  entitled  to  choose  three,  Massachusetts  eight,  Rhode- 
‘  Island  and  Providence  Plantations  one,  Connecticut  five,  New-York  six, 
‘  New-Jersey  four,  Pennsylvania  eight,  Delaware  one,  Maryland  six,  Vir- 
4  ginia  ten,  North-Carolina  five,  South-Carolina  five,  and  Georgia  three. 

4  When  Vacancies  happen  in  the  Representation  from  any  State,  the 
4  Executive  Authority  thereof  shall  issue  Writs  of  Election  to  fill  such  Va- 
‘  cancies. 

4  The  House  of  Representatives  shall  choose  their  Speaker  and  other 
■  Officers ;  and  shall  have  the  sole  Power  of  Impeachment. 

4  Sect.  3.  The  Senate  of  the  United  States  shall  be  composed  of  two 
4  Senators  from  each  State,  chosen  by  the  Legislature  thereof,  for  six  Years ; 
4  and  each  Senator  shall  have  one  Vote. 

4  Immediately  after  they  shall  be  assembled  in  Consequecce  of  the  first 
4  Election,  they  shall  be  divided  as  equally  as  may  be  into  three  Classes. 
4  The  Seats  of  the  Senators  of  the  first  Class  shall  be  vacated  at  the  Expi- 
4  ration  of  the  second  Year,  of  the  second  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the 
4  fourth  Year,  and  of  the  third  Class  at  the  Expiration  of  the  sixth  Year, 

4  so 


13 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY. 

so  that  one  Third  may  be  chosen  every  second  Year;  and  if  Vacancies 
happen  by  Resignation,  or  otherwise,  during  the  Recess  of  the  Legisla¬ 
ture  of  any  State,  the  Executive  thereof  may  make  temporary  Appoint¬ 
ments  until  the  next  Meeting  of  the  Legislature,  which  shall  then  fill 
such  Vacancies. 

‘  No  Person  shall  be  a  Senator  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  Age  of 
thirty  Years,  and  been  nine  Years  a  Citizen  of  the  United  States,  and 
who  shall  not,  when  elected,  be  an  Inhabitant  of  that  State  for  which  he 
shall  be  chosen. 

‘  The  Vice-President  of  the  United  States  shall  be  President  of  the  Se¬ 
nate,  but  shall  have  no  Vote,  unless  they  be  equally  divided. 

‘  The  Senate  shall  choose  their  other  Officers,  and  also  a  President  pro- 
tempore,  in  the  Absence  of  the  Vice-President,  or  when  he  shall  Exer¬ 
cise  the  Office  of  President  of  the  United  States. 

‘  The  Senate  shall  have  the  sole  Power  to  try  all  Impeachments.  When 
sitting  for  that  Purpose,  they  shall  be  on  Oath  or  Affirmation.  When 
the  President  of  the  United  States  is  tried,  the  Chief-Justice  shall  pre¬ 
side  :  And  no  Person  shall  be  convicted  without  the  Concurrence  of  two 
Thirds  of  the  Members  present. 

‘  Judgment  in  Cases  of  Impeachment  shall  not  extend  further  than  to 
Removal  from  Office,  and  Disqualification  to  hold  and  enjoy  any  Office 
of  Honour,  Trust  or  Profit  under  the  United  States ;  but  the  Party  con¬ 
victed  shall  nevertheless  be  liable  and  subject  to  Indictment,  Trial,  Judg¬ 
ment  and  Punishment,  according  to  Law. 

‘  Sect.  4.  The  Times,  Places  and  Manner  of  holding  Elections  for 
‘  Senators  and  Representatives,  shall  be  prescribed  in  each  State  by  the  Le- 
‘  gislatnre  thereof;  but  the  Congress  may  at  any  Time  by  Law  make  or 
‘  alter  such  Regulations,  except  as  to  the  Places  of  choosing  Senators. 

‘  The  Congress  shall  assemble  at  least  once  in  every  Year,  and  such 
‘  Meeting  shall  be  on  the  first  Monday  in  December,  unless  they  shall  by 
‘  Law  appoint  a  different  Day.  ‘  Sect. 


14  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 

1  Sect.  5.  Each  Honse  shall  be  the  Judge  of  the  Elections,  Returns  and 
Qualifications  of  its  own  Members,  and  a  Majority  of  each  shall  consti¬ 
tute  a  Quorum  to  do  Business;  but  a  smaller  Number  may  adjourn  from 
Day  to  Day,  and  may  be  authorized  to  compel  the  Attendance  of  absent 
Members,  in  such  Manner,  and  under  such  Penalties  as  each  House  may 
provide. 

‘  Each  House  may  determine  the  Rules  of  its  Proceedings,  punish  its 
Members  for  disorderly  Behaviour,  and,  with  the  Concurrence  of  two 
Thirds,  expel  a  Member. 

‘  Each  House  shall  keep  a  Journal  of  its  Proceedings,  and  from  Time  to 
Time  publish  the  same,  excepting  such  Parts  as  may  in  their  Judgment 
require  Secrecy;  and  the  Yeas  and  Nays  of  the  Members  of  either  House 
on  any  Question  shall,  at  the  Desire  of  one  Fifth  of  those  present,  be 
entered  on  the  Journal. 

‘  Neither  House,  during  the  Session  of  Congress,  shall,  without  the  Con¬ 
sent  of  the  other,  adjourn  for  more  than  three  Days,  nor  to  any  other 
Place  than  that  in  which  the  two  Houses  shall  be  sitting. 

1  Sect.  6.  The  Senators  and  Representatives  shall  receive  a  Compensati¬ 
on  for  their  Services,  to  be  ascertained  by  Law,  and  paid  out  of  the 
Treasury  of  the  United  States.  They  shall  in  all  Cases,  except  Treason, 
Felony  and  Breach  of  the  Peace,  be  privileged  from  Arrest  during  their 
Attendance  at  the  Session  of  their  respective  Houses,  and  in  going  to 
and  returning  from  the  same;  and  for  any  Speech  or  Debate  in  either 
House,  they  shall  not  be  questioned  in  any  other  Place. 

‘  No  Senator  or  Representative  shall,  during  the  time  for  which  he  was 
elected,  be  appointed  to  any  civil  Office  under  the  Authority  of  the 
United  States,  which  shall  have  been  created,  or  the  Emoluments  where¬ 
of  shall  have  been  encreased  during  such  Time;  and  no  Person  holding 
any  Office  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  a  Member  of  either  House 
during  his  Continuance  in  Office. 


‘  Sect. 


I 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  15 

‘  Sect.  7.  All  Bills  for  raising  Revenue  shall  originate  in  the  House  of 
1  Representatives ;  but  the  Senate  may  propose  or  concur  with  Amend- 
1  ments  as  on  other  Bills. 

‘  Every  Bill  which  shall  have  passed  the  House  of  Representatives  and 
‘  the  Senate,  shall,  before  it  become  a  Law,  be  presented  to  the  President  of 
‘  the  United  States ;  if  he  approve  he  shall  sign  it,  but  if  not  he  shall  re- 
‘  turn  it,  with  his  Objections  to  that  House  in  which  it  shall  have  originat- 
‘  ed,  who  shall  enter  the  Objections  at  Large  on  their  Journal,  and  pro- 
‘  ceed  to  reconsider  it.  If  after  such  Reconsideration  two  Thirds  of  that 
‘  House  shall  agree  to  pass  the  Bill,  it  shall  be  sent,  together  with  the  Ob- 
‘  jections,  to  the  other  House  by  which  it  shall  likewise  be  reconsidered, 

‘  and,  if  approved  by  two  Thirds  of  that  House,  it  shall  become  a  Law. 

‘  But  in  all  such  Cases  the  Votes  of  both  Houses  shall  be  determined  by 
‘  Yeas  and  Nays,  and  the  Names  of  the  Persons  voting  for  and  against  the 
‘  Bill  shall  be  entered  on  the  Journal  of  each  House  respectively.  If  any 
1  Bill  shall  not  be  returned  by  the  President  within  ten  Days  (Sundays  ex- 
‘  cepted)  after  it  shall  have  been  presented  to  him,  the  same  shall  be  a  Law, 

‘  in  like  Manner  as  if  he  had  signed  it,  unless  the  Congress  by  their  Ad- 
‘  journment  prevent  its  Return,  in  which  Case  it  shall  not  be  a  Law. 

‘  Every  Order,  Resolution,  or  Vote,  to  which  the  Concurrence  of  the 
*  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  may  be  necessary  (except  on  a  Ques- 
‘  tion  of  Adjournment)  shall  be  presented  to  the  President  of  the  United 
‘  States ;  and,  before  the  same  shall  take  Effect,  shall  be  approved  by  him, 

‘  or,  being  disapproved  by  him,  shall  be  re-passed  by  two  Thirds  of  the 
‘  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  according  to  the  Rules  and  Limi- 
‘  tations  prescribed  in  the  Case  of  a  Bill. 

‘  Sect.  8.  The  Congress  shall  have  Power 

‘  To  lay  and  collect  Taxes,  Duties,  Imposts  and  Excises,  to  pay  the  Debts 
‘  and  provide  for  the  common  Defence  and  general  Welfare  of  the  United 
‘  States ;  but  all  Duties,  Imposts  and  Excises,  shall  be  uniform  throughout 
‘  the  United  States  ; 

‘  To 


16  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


‘  To  borrow  Money  on  the  Credit  of  the  United  States ; 

‘  To  regulate  Commerce  with  foreign  Nations,  and  among  the  several 
‘  States,  and  with  the  Indian  Tribes ; 

‘  To  establish  an  uniform  Rule  of  Naturalization,  and  uniform  Laws  on 
‘  the  Subject  of  Bankruptcies  throughout  the  United  States; 

1  To  coin  Money,  regulate  the  Value  thereof  and  of  foreign  Coin,  and 
‘  fix  the  Standard  of  Weights  and  Measures  ; 

‘  To  provide  for  the  Punishment  of  counterfeiting  the  Securities  and 
‘  current  Coin  of  the  United  States; 

‘  To  establish  Post  Offices  and  Post  Roads ; 

‘  To  promote  the  Progress  of  Science  and  useful  Arts,  by  securing,  for 
‘  limited  Times,  to  Authors  and  Inventors,  the  exclusive  Right  to  their  re- 
‘  spective  Writings  and  Discoveries  ; 

‘  To  constitute  Tribunals  inferior  to  the  Supreme  Court; 

(  To  define  and  punish  Piracies  and  Felonies  committed  on  the  high 
‘  Seas,  and  Offences  against  the  Law  of  Nations ; 

‘  To  declare  War,  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal,  and  make 
‘  Rules  concerning  Captures  on  Land  and  Water; 

‘  To  raise  and  support  Armies — but  no  Appropriation  of  Money  to  that 
‘  Use  shall  be  for  a  longer  Term  than  two  Years ; 

‘  To  provide  and  maintain  a  Navy; 

1  To  make  Rules  for  the  Government  and  Regulation  of  the  Land  and 
‘  Naval  Forces  ; 

‘  To  provide  for  calling  forth  the  Militia  to  execute  the  Laws  of  the 
‘  Union,  suppress  Insurrections,  and  repel  Invasions ; 

‘  To  provide  for  Organizing,  Arming  and  Disciplining,  the  Militia,  and 
‘  for  governing  such  Part  of  them  as  may  be  employed  in  the  Service  of 
1  the  United  States,  reserving  to  the  States  respectively  the  Appointment  of 
‘  the  Officers,  and  the  Authority  of  Training  the  Militia  according  to  the 
‘  Discipline  prescribed  by  Congress : 

'  ‘  To  exercise  exclusive  Legislation  in  all  Cases  whatsoever,  over  such 

‘  District 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  17 

‘  District  (not  exceeding  ten  Miles  Square)  as  may,  by  Cession  of  particu- 
‘  lar  States,  and  the  Acceptance  of  Congress,  become  the  Seat  of  the  Go- 
‘  vernment  of  the  United  States,  and  to  exercise  like  Authority  over  all 
1  Places  purchased  by  the  Consent  of  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in  which 
‘  the  same  shall  be,  for  the  Erection  of  Forts,  Magazines,  Arsenals,  Dock- 
1  Yards,  and  other  needful  Buildings ; — And 

‘  To  make  all  Laws  which  shall  be  necessary  and  proper  for  carrying 
‘  into  Execution  the  foregoing  Powers,  and  all  other  Powers  vested  by  this 
‘  Constitution  in  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  or  in  any  Depart- 
‘  ment  or  Officer  thereof. 

‘  Sect.  9.  The  Migration  or  Importation  of  such  Persons  as  any  of  the 
‘  States  now  existing  shall  think  proper  to  admit,  shall  not  be  prohibited 
‘  by  the  Congress  prior  to  the  Year  One  Thousand  Eight  Hundred  and 
‘  Eight,  but  a  Tax  or  Duty  may  be  imposed  on  such  Importation,  not 
‘  exceeding  Ten  Dollars  for  each  Person. 

‘  The  Privilege  of  the  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  shall  not  be  suspended, 
‘  unless  when  in  Cases  of  Rebellion  or  Invasion  the  publick  Safety  may 
‘  require  it. 

‘  No  Bill  of  Attainder,  or  ex  post  facto  Law  shall  be  passed. 

‘  No  Capitation,  or  other  direct,  Tax,  shall  be  laid,  unless  in  Proporti- 
1  on  to  the  Census  or  Enumeration  herein  before  directed  to  be  taken. 

‘  No  Tax  or  Duty  shall  be  laid  on  Articles  exported  from  any  State. 

‘  No  Preference  shall  be  given  by  any  Regulation  of  Commerce  or  Re- 
‘  venue  to  the  Ports  of  one  State  over  those  of  another;  nor  shall  Vessels 
‘  bound  to,  or  from,  one  State,  be  obliged  to  enter,  clear,  or  pay  Duties 
‘  in  another. 

‘  No  Money  shall  be  drawn  from  the  Treasury,  but  in  Consequence  of 
‘  Appropriations  made  by  Law;  and  a  regular  Statement  and  Account  of 
‘  the  Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  all  publick  Money  shall  be  published 
‘  from  Time  to  Time. 


C 


‘  No 


18  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


‘  No  Title  of  Nobility  shall  be  granted  by  the  United  States  : — And  no 
‘  Person  holding  any  Office  of  Profit  or  Trust  under  them,  shall,  without 
‘  the  Consent  of  the  Congress,  accept  of  any  Present,  Emolument,  Office 
‘  or  Title,  of  any  Kind  whatever,  from  any  King,  Prince  or  foreign  State. 

‘  Sect.  io.  No  State  shall  enter  into  any  Treaty,  Alliance,  or  Confede- 
‘  ration ;  grant  Letters  of  Marque  and  Reprisal ;  coin  Money ;  emit  Bills 
‘  of  Credit;  make  any  Thing  but  Gold  and  Silver  Coin  a  Tender  in  Pay- 
‘  ment  of  Debts ;  pass  any  Bill  of  Attainder,  ex  post  facto  Law,  or  Law 
‘  impairing  the  Obligation  of  Contracts,  or  grant  any  Title  of  Nobility. 

‘  No  State  shall,  without  the  Consent  of  the  Congress,  lay  any  Imposts 

*  or  Duties  on  Imports  or  Exports,  except  what  may  be  absolutely  necessary 
‘  for  executing  its  Inspection  Laws ;  and  the  net  Produce  of  all  Duties  and 
‘  Imposts,  laid  by  any  State  on  Imports  or  Exports,  shall  be  for  the  Use  of 
‘  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States ;  and  all  such  Laws  shall  be  subject  to 
‘  the  Revision  and  Control  of  the  Congress.  No  State  shall,  without  the 
‘  Consent  of  Congress,  lay  any  Duty  of  Tonnage,  keep  Troops,  or  Ships 
‘  of  War,  in  Time  of  Peace,  enter  into  any  Agreement  or  Compact  with 
‘  another  State,  or  with  a  foreign  Power,  or  engage  in  War,  unless  actual- 
‘  ly  invaded,  or  in  such  imminent  Danger  as  will  not  admit  of  Delay. 

‘ARTICLE  II. 

‘  Sect.  i.  The  Executive  Power  shall  be  vested  in  a  President  of  the 
‘  United  States  of  America.  He  shall  hold  his  Office  during  the  Term  of 
‘  four  Years,  and,  together  with  the  Vice-President,  chosen  for  the  same 
‘  Term,  be  elected  as  follows  : 

‘  Each  State  shall  appoint,  in  such  Manner  as  the  Legislature  thereof 
‘  may  direct,  a  Number  of  Electors,  equal  to  the  whole  Number  of  Sena- 

*  tors  and  Representatives  to  which  the  State  may  be  entitled  in  the  Con- 
1  gress ;  but  no  Senator  or  Representative,  or  Person  holding  an  Office  of 
‘  Trust  or  Profit  under  the  United  States,  shall  be  appointed  an  Elector. 

‘  The  Electors  shall  meet  in  their  respective  States,  and  vote  by  Ballot 

‘  for 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  19 

for  two  Persons,  of  whom  one  at  least  shall  not  be  an  Inhabitant  of  the 
same  State  with  themselves.  And  they  shall  make  a  List  of  all  the  Per¬ 
sons  voted  for,  and  of  the  Number  of  Votes  for  each ;  which  List  they  shall 
sign  and  certify,  and  transmit  sealed  to  the  Seat  of  the  Government  of 
the  United  States,  directed  to  the  President  of  the  Senate.  The  President 
of  the  Senate  shall,  in  the  Presence  of  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre¬ 
sentatives,  open  all  the  Certificates,  and  the  Votes  shall  then  be  counted. 
The  Person  having  the  greatest  Number  of  Votes  shall  be  the  President, 
if  such  Number  be  a  majority  of  the  whole  Number  of  Electors  ap 
pointed,  and  if  there  be  more  than  one  who  have  such  Majority,  and 
have  an  equal  Number  of  Votes,  then  the  House  of  Representatives  shall 
immediately  choose  by  Ballot  one  of  them  for  President ;  and  if  no 
Person  have  a  Majority,  then  from  the  five  highest  on  the  List  the  said 
House  shall  in  like  Manner  choose  the  President.  But  in  choosing  the 
President,  the  Votes  shall  be  taken  by  States,  the  Representation  from 
each  State  having  one  vote;  a  Quorum  for  this  Purpose  shall  consist  of 
a  Member  or  Members  from  two  Thirds  of  the  States,  and  a  Majority 
of  all  the  States  shall  be  necessary  to  a  Choice.  In  every  Case,  after  the 
Choice  of  the  President,  the  Person  having  the  greatest  Number  of  Votes 
of  the  Electors  shall  be  the  Vice  President.  But  if  there  should  remain 
two  or  more  who  have  equal  Votes,  the  Senate  shall  choose  from  them 
by  Ballot  the  Vice-President. 

‘  The  Congress  may  determine  the  Time  of  choosing  the  Electors,  and 
the  Day  on  which  they  shall  give  their  Votes ;  which  Day  shall  be  the 
same  throughout  the  United  States. 

‘  No  Person  except  a  natural-born  Citizen,  or  a  Citizen  of  the  United 
States  at  the  Time  of  the  Adoption  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  eligible 
to  the  Office  of  President ;  neither  shall  any  Person  be  eligible  to  that 
Office  who  shall  not  have  attained  to  the  Age  of  thirty-five  Years,  and 
been  fourteen  Years  a  Resident  within  the  United  States. 

‘  In  case  of  the  Removal  of  the  President  from  Office,  or  of  his  Death, 

‘  Resignation, 


20  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


‘  Resignation,  or  Inability  to  discharge  the  Powers  and  Duties  of  the  said 
‘  Office,  the  same  shall  devolve  on  the  Vice-President,  and  the  Congress 
‘  may  by  Law  provide  for  the  Case  of  Removal,  Death,  Resignation  or 
‘  Inability,  both  of  the  President  and  Vice-President,  declaring  what  Offi- 
‘  cer  shall  then  act  as  President,  and  such  Officer  shall  act  accordingly 
‘  until  the  Disability  be  removed,  or  a  President  shall  be  elected. 

‘  The  President  shall,  at  stated  Times,  receive  for  his  Services,  a  Com- 
‘  pensation,  which  shall  neither  be  eucreased  nor  diminished  during  the 
‘  Period  for  which  he  shall  have  been  elected,  and  he  shall  not  receive 
‘  within  that  Period  any  other  Emolument  from  the  United  States,  or 
‘  any  of  them. 

‘  Before  he  enter  on  the  Execution  of  his  Office,  he  shall  take  the  fol- 
‘  lowing  Oath  or  Affirmation  : 

“I  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  I  will  faithfully  execute  the  Of- 
“  fice  of  President  of  the  United  States,  and  will,  to  the  best  of  my  Abi- 
“  lity,  preserve,  protect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States.” 

‘  Sect .  2.  The  President  shall  be  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Army 
‘  and  Navy  of  the  United  States,  and  of  the  Militia  of  the  several  States, 

1  when  called  into  the  actual  Service  of  the  United  States ;  he  may  re- 
‘  quire  the  Opinion,  in  Writing,  of  the  principal  Officer  in  each  of  the 
‘  executive  Departments,  upon  any  Subject  relating  to  the  Duties  of  their 
‘  respective  Offices ;  and  he  shall  have  Power  to  grant  Reprieves  and  Pardons 
‘  for  Offences  against  the  United  States,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeachment. 

‘  He  shall  have  Power,  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of  the  Se- 
‘  nate,  to  make  Treaties,  provided  two  Thirds  of  the  Senators  present  con- 
‘  cur;  and  he  shall  nominate,  and  by  and  with  the  Advice  and  Consent  of 
‘  the  Senate,  shall  appoint  Ambassadors,  other  publick  Ministers  and  Con- 
‘  suls,  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  all  other  Officers  of  the  United 
‘  States,  whose  Appointments  are  not  herein  otherwise  provided  for,  and 
‘  which  shall  be  established  by  Law.  But  the  Congress  may  by  Law  vest 

‘  the 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  21 

‘  the  Appointment  of  such  inferior  Officers,  as  they  think  proper,  in  the 
‘  President  alone,  in  the  Courts  of  Law,  or  in  the  Heads  of  Departments. 

‘  The  President  shall  have  Power  to  fill  up  all  Vacancies  that  may  hap- 
‘  pen  during  the  Recess  of  the  Senate,  by  granting  Commissions  which 
‘  shall  expire  at  the  Bnd  of  their  next  Session. 

‘  Sect.  3.  He  shall  from  Time  to  Time  give  to  the  Congress  Informati- 
‘  on  of  the  State  of  the  Union,  and  recommend  to  their  Consideration  such 
‘  Measures  as  he  shall  judge  necessary  and  expedient;  he  may,  on  extraor- 
‘  dinary  Occasions,  convene  both  Houses,  or  either  of  them,  and  in  case 
‘  of  Disagreement  between  them,  with  Respect  to  the  Time  of  Adjourn- 
‘  ment,  he  may  adjourn  them  to  such  Time  as  he  shall  think  proper;  he 
‘  shall  receive  Ambassadors  and  other  publick  Ministers ;  he  shall  take 
‘  Care  that  the  Laws  be  faithfully  executed,  and  shall  commission  all  the 
‘  Officers  of  the  United  States. 

‘  Sect.  4.  The  President,  Vice-President,  and  all  civil  Officers  of  the 

‘  United  States,  shall  be  removed  from  Office  on  Impeachment  for,  and 

‘  Conviction  of,  Treason,  Bribery,  or  other  high  Crimes  and  Misdemeanors. 

‘ARTICLE  HI. 

‘  Sect.  1.  The  judicial  Power  of  the  United  States  shall  be  vested  in 
‘  one  Supreme  Court,  and  in  such  Inferior  Courts  as  the  Congress  may 
‘  from  Time  to  Time  ordain  and  establish.  The  Judges,  both  of  the  Su- 
‘  preme  and  Inferior  Courts,  shall  hold  their  Offices  during  good  Behavi- 
‘  our,  and  shall,  at  stated  Times,  receive  for  their  Services  a  Compensation, 
‘  which  shall  not  be  diminished  during  their  Continuance  in  Office. 

‘  Sect.  2.  The  judicial  Power  shall  extend  to  all  Cases,  in  Law  and 
‘  Equity,  arising  under  this  Constitution,  the  Laws  of  the  United  States, 
,  and  Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  their  Authority ;  to 

‘  all 


22  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


‘  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors,  other  publick  Ministers  and  Consuls  ;  to 
‘  all  Cases  of  Admiralty  and  Maritime  Jurisdiction ;  to  Controversies  to 
‘  which  the  United  States  shall  be  a  Party ;  to  Controversies  between  two 
‘  or  more  States,  between  a  State  and  Citizens  of  another  State,  between 
‘  Citizens  of  different  States,  between  Citizens  of  the  same  State  claim- 
‘  ing  Lands  under  Grants  of  different  States,  and  between  a  State,  or  the 
‘  Citizens  thereof,  and  foreign  States,  Citizens  or  Subjects. 

‘  In  all  Cases  affecting  Ambassadors,  other  publick  Ministers  and  Consuls, 
‘  and  those  in  which  a  State  shall  be  Party,  the  Supreme  Court  shall  have 
‘  original  Jurisdiction.  In  all  the  other  Cases  before  mentioned,  the  Su- 
‘  preme  Court  shall  have  appellate  Jurisdiction,  both  as  to  Law  and  Fact, 
‘  with  such  Exceptions,  and  under  such  Regulations  as  the  Congress  shall 
‘  make. 

‘  The  Trial  of  all  Crimes,  except  in  Cases  of  Impeachment,  shall  be  by 
‘  Jury;  and  such  Trial  shall  be  held  in  the  State  where  the  said  Crimes 
‘  shall  have  been  committed;  but  when  not  committed  within  any  State, 

‘  the  Trial  shall  be  at  such  Place  or  Places  as  the  Congress  may  by  Law 
‘  have  directed. 

‘  Sect.  3.  Treason  against  the  United  States,  shall  consist  only  in  levy- 
‘  ing  War  against  them,  or  in  adhering  to  their  Enemies,  giving  them  Aid 
*  and  Comfort.  No  Person  shall  be  convicted  of  Treason  unless  on  the 
‘  Testimony  of  two  Witnesses  to  the  same  overt  Act,  or  on  Confession  in 
‘  open  Court. 

‘  The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  declare  the  Punishment  of  Treason, 
‘  but  no  Attainder  of  Treason  shall  work  Corruption  of  Blood,  or  Forfei- 
‘  ture  except  during  the  Life  of  the  Person  attainted. 

‘ARTICLE  IV. 

*  Sect.  1.  Full  Faith  and  Credit  shall  be  given  in  each  State  to  the 
‘  publick  Acts,  Records,  and  judicial  Proceedings  of  every  other  State.  And 

‘  the 


1 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  23 

‘  the  Congress  may  by  general  Laws  prescribe  the  Manner  in  which  such 
‘  Acts,  Records  and  Proceedings  shall  be  proved,  and  the  Effect  thereof. 

‘  Sect.  2.  The  Citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  Privileges 
‘  and  Immunities  of  Citizens  in  the  several  States. 

‘  A  Person  charged  in  any  State  with  Treason,  Felony  or  other  Crime, 

‘  who  shall  flee  from  Justice,  and  be  found  in  another  State,  shall,  on  De¬ 
mand  of  the  Executive  Authority  of  the  State  from  which  he  fled,  be 
‘  delivered  up,  to  be  removed  to  the  State  having  Jurisdiction  of  the 
‘  Crime. 

‘  No  Person  held  to  Service  or  Labour  in  one  State,  under  the  Laws 
‘  thereof,  escaping  into  another,  shall,  in  Consequence  of  any  Law  or  Re- 
‘  gulation  therein,  be  discharged  from  such  Service  or  Labour,  but  shall  be 

‘  delivered  up  on  Claim  of  the  Party  to  whom  such  Service  or  Labour 

‘  may  be  due. 

‘  Sect.  3.  New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  this  Union ; 

‘  but  no  new  State  shall  be  formed  or  erected  within  the  Jurisdiction  of 
‘  any  other  State ;  nor  any  State  be  formed  by  the  Junction  of  two  or 
1  more  States,  or  Parts  of  States,  without  the  Consent  of  the  Legislatures 

‘  of  the  States  concerned  as  well  as  of  the  Congress. 

‘  The  Congress  shall  have  Power  to  dispose  of  and  make  all  needful 
‘  Rules  and  Regulations  respecting  the  Territory  or  other  Property  belong- 
1  ing  to  the  United  States ;  and  Nothing  in  this  Constitution  shall  be  so 
‘  construed  as  to  prejudice  any  Claims  of  the  United  States,  or  of  any 
‘  particular  State. 

‘  Sect.  4.  The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to  every  State  in  this  Uni- 
‘  on  a  Republican  Form  of  Government,  and  shall  protect  each  of  them 
‘  against  Invasion ;  and  on  Application  of  the  Legislature,  or  of  the  Exe- 
‘  cutive  (when  the  Legislature  cannot  be  convened)  against  domestick 
‘  Violence.  ‘  ARTICLE 


24  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 

‘ARTICLE  V. 

‘  The  Congress,  whenever  two  Thirds  of  both  Houses  shall  deem  it  ne- 

*  ^ 

‘  cessary,  shall  propose  Amendments  to  this  Consititution,  or,  on  the  Ap- 
‘  plication  of  the  Legislatures  of  two  Thirds  of  the  several  States,  shall  call 
‘  a  Convention  for  proposing  Amendments,  which,  in  either  Case,  shall  be 
‘  valid  to  all  Intents  and  Purposes,  as  Part  of  this  Constitution,  when  ra- 
‘  tified  by  the  Legislatures  of  three  Fourths  of  the  several  States,  or 
by  Conventions  in  three  Fourths  thereof,  as  the  one  or  the  other  Mode 
‘  of  Ratification  may  be  proposed  by  the  Congress :  Provided,  that  no 
‘  Amendment,  which  may  be  made  prior  to  the  Year  One  Thousand 
‘  Bight  Hundred  and  Bight,  shall  in  any  Manner  affect  the  first  and  fourth 
‘  Clauses  in  the  ninth  Section  of  the  first  Article ;  and  that  no  State,  with- 
‘  out  its  Consent,  shall  be  deprived  of  its  equal  Suffrage  in  the  Senate. 

‘  A  R  T  I  C  L  B  VI. 

‘  All  Debts  contracted,  and  Bngagements  entered  into,  before  the  Adopti- 
‘  on  of  this  Constitution,  shall  be  as  valid  against  the  United  States  un- 
‘  der  this  Constitution,  as  under  the  Confederation. 

This  Constitution,  and  the  Laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall  be 
‘  made  in  Pursuance  thereof ;  and  all  Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be 
‘  made,  under  the  Authority  of  the  United  States ;  shall  be  the  supreme 
‘  Law  of  the  Land :  And  the  Judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  there- 
‘  by,  any  Thing  in  the  Constitution  or  Laws  of  any  State  to  the  contra- 
‘  ry  notwithstanding. 

‘  The  Senators  and  Representatives  before  mentioned,  and  the  Mem- 
‘  bers  of  the  several  State  Legislatures,  and  all  Executive  and  Judicial  Of- 
‘  ficers,  both  of  the  United  States  and  of  the  several  States,  shall  be  bound 
‘  by  Oath  or  Affirmation,  to  support  this  Constitution ;  but  no  religious 
‘  Test  shall  ever  be  required  as  a  Qualification  to  any  Office  or  publick 
‘  Trust  under  the  United  States. 


‘ARTICLE 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  25 

‘ARTICLE  VII. 

‘  The  Ratification  of  the  Conventions  of  nine  States  shall  be  sufficient 
1  for  the  Establishment  of  this  Constitution  between  the  States  so  ratify- 
‘  ing  the  same.’ 

AND  WHEREAS  Congress,  on  the  twenty-eighth  Day  of  September  last, 
unanimously  did  Resolve,  ‘  That  the  said  Report,  with  the  Resolutions  and 
‘  Letter  accompanying  the  same,  be  transmitted  to  the  several  Legislatures, 

‘  in  order  to  be  submitted  to  a  Convention  of  Delegates,  chosen  in  each 

‘  State  by  the  People  thereof,  in  Conformity  to  the  Resolves  of  the  Con- 

‘  vention,  made  and  provided  in  that  Case.’ 

AND  WHEREAS  the  Legislature  of  this  State  did,  on  the  twenty-ninth 
Day  of  October  last,  Resolve  in  the  Words  following,  viz. 

‘  Resolved  unanimously ,  That  it  be  recommended  to  such  of  the  Inhabi- 
‘  tants  of  this  State  as  are  entitled  to  vote  for  Representatives  in  General 
‘  Assembly,  to  meet  in  their  respective  Counties  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in 
‘  November  next,  at  the  several  Places  fixed  by  Law  for  holding  the  an- 
‘  nnal  Elections,  to  choose  three  suitable  Persons  to  serve  as  Delegates  from 
1  each  County  in  a  State  Convention,  for  the  Purposes  herein  before  men- 

‘  tioned;  and  that  the  same  be  conducted  agreeably  to  the  Mode,  and 

‘  conformably  with  the  Rules  and  Regulations  prescribed  for  conducting 
‘  such  Elections. 

‘  Resolved  unanimously ,  That  the  Persons  so  elected  to  serve  in  State  Con- 
‘  vention,  do  assemble  and  meet  together  on  the  second  Tuesday  in  Decem- 
‘  ber  next,  at  Trenton,  in  the  County  of  Hunterdon,  then  and  there  to 
‘  take  into  Consideration  the  aforesaid  Constitution ;  and  if  approved  of 
‘  by  them,  finally  to  ratify  the  same  in  Behalf  and  on  the  Part  of  this 
‘  State ;  and  make  Report  thereof  to  the  United  States  in  Congress  assem- 
‘  bled,  in  Conformity  with  the  Resolutions  thereto  annexed. 

D 


‘  Resolved , 


26  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


‘  Resolved ,  That  the  Sheriffs  of  the  respective  Counties  of  this  State  shall 
*  be,  and  they  are  hereby  required  to  give  as  timely  Notice  as  may  be  by 
‘  Advertisements  to  the  People  of  their  Counties,  of  the  Time,  Place  and 
‘  Purpose  of  holding  Elections  as  aforesaid.’ 

AND  WHEREAS  the  Legislature  of  this  State  did  also,  on  the  first  Day 
of  November  last,  make  and  pass  the  following  Act,  viz. 

‘  An  ACT  to  authorize  the  People  of  this  State  to  meet  in  Convention, 
‘  deliberate  upon,  agree  to,  and  ratify  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
‘  States,  proposed  by  the  late  General  Convention. 

BE  it  Enacted  by  the  Council  and  General  Assembly  of  this  State,  and 
it  is  hereby  Enacted  by  the  Authority  of  the  same,  that  it  shall  and 
1  may  be  lawful  for  the  People  thereof,  by  their  Delegates,  to  meet  in 
-*  Convention,  to  deliberate  upon,  and,  if  approved  of  by  them,  to  ratify 
‘  the  Constitution  for  the  United  States,  proposed  by  the  General  Conven- 
‘  tion,  held  at  Philadelphia,  and  every  Act,  Matter  and  Clause  therein  con- 
‘  tained,  conformably  to  the  Resolutions  of  the  Legislature,  passed  the 
‘  twenty-ninth  Day  of  October,  Seventeen  Hundred  and  Eighty-seven, 
‘  any  Law,  Usage  or  Custom  to  the  contrary  in  anywise  notwithstanding.’ 

NOW  BE  IT  KNOWN,  That  we,  the  Delegates  of  the  State  of  New- 
Jersey,  chosen  by  the  People  thereof,  for  the  Purposes  aforesaid,  having 
maturely  deliberated  on  and  considered  the  aforesaid  proposed  Constituti¬ 
on,  do  hereby,  for  and  on  the  Behalf  of  the  People  of  the  said  State  of  New- 
Jersey,  agree  to,  ratify  and  confirm  the  same,  and  every  Part  thereof. 

Done  in  Convention,  by  the  unanimous  Consent  of  the  Members  present, 
this  eighteenth  Day  of  December,  in  the  Year  of  our  Lord  One 
Thousand  Seven  Hundred  and  Eighty-seven,  and  of  the  Independence 
of  the  United  States  of  America  the  twelfth.  In  Witness  whereof 
we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  Names. 


On 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  27 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  the  Secretary  he  directed  to  cause  two  Copies  of  the  Fe¬ 
deral  Constitution,  together  with  the  Form  of  the  Ratification,  & c.  as  agreed 
to,  engrossed  on  Parchment,  in  a  neat  and  correct  Manner,  to  be  laid  be¬ 
fore  the  Convention  To-morrow  Morning,  for  the  Purpose  of  Signature ; 
one  for  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  and  the  other  to  be  deposited 
among  the  Archives  of  this  State. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’Clock. 

Wednesday ,  December  19,  1787. 


The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 


Mr.  Whillden,  from  the  Committee  appointed  for  the  Purpose  of  report¬ 
ing  a  State  of  the  Fxpences,  & c.  made  their  Report ;  which  was  ordered  to 
lie  on  the  Table  for  Consideration. 

The  Secretary,  agreeably  to  the  Order  of  Yesterday,  laid  before  the  Con¬ 
vention  two  Copies  of  the  Federal  Constitution,  & c.  together  with  the 
Form  of  the  Ratification  as  agreed  to,  engrossed  on  Parchment,  for  the 
Purpose  of  Signature ;  whereupon  the  Members  of  Convention  proceed¬ 
ed  to  subscribe  their  Names  thereto,  and  the  Secretary  to  attest  the  same, 
in  the  following  Order: 

JOHN  STEVENS,  President, 

And  Deputy  from  Hunterdon. 

{John  Fete, 

Peter  Zabriskie, 

CORNEEIUS  HENNION. 


ESSEX, 

MIDDLESEX, 


f  John  Chetwood, 
<  Samuee  Hay, 
l  David  Crane. 


John  Neieson, 

John  Beatty, 

Benjamin  Manning. 

MONMOUTH, 


28  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 


MONMOUTH,  -! 

r  Elisha  Lawrence, 

Samuel  Breese, 
l  William  Crawford. 

SOMERSET, 

r  John  Witherspoon, 

Jacob  R.  Hardenbergh, 
l  Frederick  Frelinghuysen. 

BURLINGTON,  -1 

r  Thomas  Reynolds, 

George  Anderson, 
l  Joshua  M.  Wallace. 

GLOUCESTER,  j 

f  Richard  Howell, 

Andrew  Hunter, 

{  Benjamin  Whitall. 

SALEM,  j 

r  Whitten  Cripps, 

Edmund  Wetherby. 

1 

CAPE-MAY,  J 

1 

r  Jesse  Hand, 

Jeremiah  Eldredge, 
l  Matthew  Whillden. 

HUNTERDON,  j 

f  David  Brearley, 

Joshua  Corshon. 

MORRIS,  j 

r  William  Windes, 

William  Woodhull, 

L  John  J.  Faesch. 

CUMBERLAND,  j 

r  David  Potter, 

Jonathan  Bowen, 

1  Eli  Elmer. 

SUSSEX,  -j 

r  Robert  Ogden, 

Thomas  Anderson, 

.  Robert  Hoops. 

Attest,  Samuel  W.  Stockton,  Secretary. 

Resolved ,  That  the  Convention  go  in  Procession  to  the  Courthouse  this 

Day 


1 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  29 

Day  at  ,one  o’Clock,  and  tliat  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  read  the  Rati¬ 
fication  of  the  Constitution  in  the  Hearing  of  the  People,  which  was  done 
accordingly. 

Resolved ,  That  the  Ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution  as  agreed  to, 
and  signed  by  this  Convention,  be  delivered  by  the  President  of  this  Con¬ 
vention  to  the  President  of  Congress  in  Congress  assembled. 

The  Convention  adjourned  to  six  o’Clock  this  Evening. 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

Resolved ,  That  the  Secretary  be  directed  to  deliver  the  Duplicate  of  the 
Ratification  of  the  Federal  Constitution  to  the  Governor  of  this  State, 
for  the  Purpose  of  being  lodged  among  the  Archives  of  the  State. 

Resolved ,  That  Mr.  Brearley  and  Mr.  G.  Anderson  be  a  Committee  to 
revise  and  correct  the  Minutes  of  the  Convention. 

Resolved ,  That  the  Secretary  transcribe  the  Minutes  of  this  Convention, 

and  deliver  the  same  to  the  Speaker  of  the  Assembly ;  that  he  also  make 

■ 

a  Copy  to  be  delivered  to  the  Printer  of  the  State  for  Publication ;  and 
that  seven  hundred  and  fifty  Copies  of  the  said  Minutes  be  printed,  and 
delivered  to  the  Members  of  the  Convention,  to  be  by  them  distributed 
among  those  Persons  who  are  entitled  to  receive  the  Votes  and  Acts  of  the 
Legislature  of  this  State. 

The  Convention  adjourned  till  To-morrow  Morning  ten  o’Clock. 

Thursday,  December  20,  17 87. 

The  Convention  met — Present  as  before. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved  unanimously ,  That  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Convention,  that  the 
State  of  New-Jersey  should  offer  a  Cession  to  Congress  of  a  District,  not  ex¬ 
ceeding  ten  Miles  Square,  for  the  Seat  of  the  Government  of  the  United 
States,  over  which  they  may  exercise  exclusive  Legislation. 


The 


3o  MINUTES  of  the  CONVENTION 

The  Report  of  the  Committee  appointed  for  the  Purpose  of  reporting  a 
State  of  the  Bxpences,  &c.  being  again  read  and  amended,  was  agreed  to 
as  follows : 

THAT  the  State  of  New-Jersey  is  indebted  to  the  several  Persons  here¬ 
in  named  as  follows,  viz. 

To  Samuel-Witham  Stockton,  Esquire,  Secretary  to  the  Convention,  the 
Sum  of  Fourteen  Shillings  per  Day,  for  each  Day  he  shall  have  attended, 
during  the  Sitting  of  the  Convention,  and  the  Sum  of  Four-pence  per 
Sheet,  reckoning  ninety  Words  to  the  Sheet,  for  entering  the  Minutes  of 
the  Proceedings  of  the  Convention  fair  in  the  Journals,  and  at  the  like 
Rate  for  a  Copy  thereof  for  the  Printer;  and  that  he  produce  a  Certificate 
thereof,  signed  by  the  President  of  the  Convention,  to  the  Legislature  at 
their  next  Sitting,  for  Allowance. 

To  Ditto,  for  parchment  and  other  Stationary,  the  Sum  of  Three  Pounds 
Twelve  Shillings. 

To  Ditto,  for  Cash  paid  to  Clerks  for  making  two  fair  Copies  of  the 
Federal  Constitution,  with  the  Act  and  Resolution  of  the  Legislature,  & c. 
and  the  Ratification  of  the  said  Constitution,  at  Six  Dollars  each,  the  Sum 
of  Four  Pounds  Ten  Shillings. 

To  Francis  Witt,  for  the  Use  of  a  Room  and  for  Firewood  during 
the  Sitting  of  the  Convention,  the  Sum  of  Four  Pounds  Two  Shillings. 

To  William  Rogers,  for  his  Attendance  as  Doorkeeper  to  the  Conventi¬ 
on,  tbe  Sum  of  Two  Pounds  Ten  Shillings. 

MATTHEW  WHILLDEN. 


On  Motion, 

Resolved  unanimously ,  That  the  Thanks  of  this  Convention  be  presented 
to  the  President,  for  his  able  and  faithful  Discharge  of  the  Duties  of  the 
Chair. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved  unanimously ,  That  the  President  be  requested  to  present  the 

Thanks 


of  the  STATE  of  NEW-JERSEY.  31 

Thanks  of  this  Convention  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Armstrong,  for  his  Attendance 
and  Services  during  their  Sitting. 

On  Motion, 

Resolved ,  That  this  Convention  do  now  dissolve ;  whereupon  the  Pre¬ 
sident  dissolved  the  Convention  accordingly. 


•f  .  ;> 


